Seth’s Pond in West Tisbury has been closed all month due to high bacteria counts, but town health authorities said Monday they are hopeful the popular swimming hole can be reopened soon.
Seth’s Pond is closed to swimming due to high bacteria counts in Monday’s routine sampling results, West Tisbury board of health agent John Powers said Wednesday morning.
Signs are posted to warn bathers of the bacteria.
The announcement follows a series of inexplicable readings and beach closures around the Vineyard. Inkwell, Lambert’s Cove and other beaches also were closed temporarily in recent weeks, in the height of the summer tourist season.
Lambert’s Cove Beach, Seth’s Pond, Long Cove Pond and Tisbury Great Pond were all closed to swimming on Thursday after results from routine water testing revealed a spike in the bacteria enterococcus.
West Tisbury health agent John Powers said he expects the tests to be an anomaly and anticipated the beaches would be open again by today. He said the contamination at Lambert’s Cove may be in part due to a breach at James Pond.
